The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to take on the Florida Panthers in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And do you recall what the Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit said? “They can play hard, they can play physical; we expect it. So it’s going to be fun. ‘If they’re going to bring it, I’m going to give it right back to them.” So, basically, this was really aimed at the aggressive group of players that the Panthers have. As an example? Matthew Tkachuk.

So, Panthers rinkside reporter Katie Engleson just shared what Tkachuk mentioned right before Round 2 Game 1: “I just think we have a lot of experience in these games, in big games, and in important games…Us against the world mentality that we’ve been talking about for a few years now.” You know how real panthers are those lone hunters out there? Well, this NHL team is a whole different story.

They have a serious mindset, and they really know how to apply pressure when facing an opponent. For sure, there was a lot of chatter before Round 1, with many saying the Tampa Bay Lightning would take down the defending Stanley Cup champions, but the fans know how that turned out. Matthew Tkachuk definitely has had his bad blood with the Maple Leafs.

In the 2023 playoffs, Tkachuk really stepped up for the Panthers during their series against the Maple Leafs. He picked up five assists over five games, including a standout three-assist performance in Game 1. He’s really good at scoring and doesn’t shy away from getting physical, which definitely makes him a true dual threat on the field.

But Tkachuk isn’t the only one who’s going to be putting a lot of pressure on the Maple Leafs as we move into the next phase of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Matthew Tkachuk’s teammate is also a nightmare for the Maple Leafs

Is there any member of Matthew Tkachuk’s squad that the Toronto Maple Leafs should be wary of? Well, obviously it’s another aggressive player, Brad Marchand. The former captain of the Boston Bruins has faced off against the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before. The hockey forward played a crucial role in helping Boston clinch several playoff series, including those in 2013, 2018, 2019, and even in 2024. And how?

Marchand wasn’t just great with his scoring; he also used a bunch of on-ice strategies that really caused some headaches for Toronto. Do you recall when the Maple Leafs’ former coach, Sheldon Keefe, talked about Marchand’s tactics on the ice? He mentioned, “He gets calls. It’s unbelievable, actually, how it goes. You’ve got to play through that stuff. I don’t think there’s another player in this series who gets away with taking out Bertuzzi’s legs the way that he does. It’s an art and he’s elite at it.”

So, you know, Marchand really has a knack for getting under his opponents’ skin. He manages to do it quite well, without facing any penalties that could impact his game. Will he do it again this time? Only time will tell.